At 09.33 hours on 22 Jan 1940 the unescorted and neutral Gothia was hit in the bow by a torpedo from U-51, developed a list to port and sank after one hour about 45 miles west by north of St. Kilda, Scotland. Three crew members were lost. The Germans did not see the nationality markings and only identified the vessel after she was already hit. The survivors abandoned ship in two lifeboats and one of them reached the Hebrides, but the other with nine occupants was never seen again.